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GJ Lions Club gives fundraising proceeds to 15 organizations

The Grand Junction Lions Club announced Monday morning that 15 nonprofit organizations were chosen to receive grants from proceeds of the club’s annual carnival fundraiser.

The largest grant of $15,000 will be given to Western Colorado Botanical Gardens for the purchase of a new heater boiler.

Another $10,000 will be given to Hospice & Palliative Care of Western Colorado as part of an ongoing commitment by the Lions to give the organization a total of $100,000 over several years. The donation brings the total to $90,000.

The Grand Junction Baseball Committee was given $5,000 toward a $25,000 grant that will be paid over the next five years for dugout renovation at Stocker Stadium.

Mesa County Search and Rescue was given $10,000, earmarked for a new radio communications mast. Hilltop also was given $10,000, which will be used to buy flooring for a new basketball court.

Mesa County Sheriff’s Department, $4,500 for a power washer for removing graffiti.

Western Slope Center for Children, $3,400 for interview and observation equipment.

Child and Migrant Services, $3,000 for commercial kitchen equipment.

Center for Enriched Community, $2,600 for updating its billing system.

Chatfield Elementary School, $2,500 for library furniture.

National Wild Turkey Federation, $2,000 for an archery equipment trailer.

The Lions meeting took place at the new headquarters of Strong Families, Safe Kids, which was able to purchase its new building at 1505 Chipeta Ave. thanks in part to a $35,000 grant the organization received from the Lions in 2009.

Speaker Ken Brownlee said this year it was difficult for the club’s Community Betterment Committee to choose who would receive the money. Many local nonprofit organizations submitted application requests to the club in excess of $500,000.

“There’s definitely a large need out there,` and we’re trying to help support this community any way that we can,” club President Ky Oday said.

Sales of raffle tickets will begin today for the annual Lions Club Carnival and Parade, which will take place Feb. 19. It’s the club’s only fundraiser. All proceeds have been given back to the community over the years for projects such as the Riverfront Trail, The Art Center, the Botanical Gardens and the Fruita Community Center.